Topic - Europe is our home

Europe is our home

Europe is regarded as being the most prolific continent in the areas of art, sciences, politics, discoveries and inventions. Europe was also a pioneer in various fields, such as transportation, research, trade and urbanization. But, despite all of these significant historical feats, Europe has not been yet able to embrace itself, to accept itself in all of its diversity and contrasts or to unite.

Firstly, Europe has never united for something, but against something. We have always reached temporary common ground only in urgent situations, the last one being the rise of strong foreign economic centers and the risk of extremist nationalism within the continent. We preferred to act together rather than separately in order to avoid economic suppression and further separation. But we need to unite for ourselves, for our common ancestry, for our being a big family.

The European Union is the biggest promoter of Europe and of its values. The EU is constantly trying to integrate us all into the “European spirit”, to get us to the status of European citizen. Then what is it that stops us from receiving our siblings with their due love and respect? The answer is again history.

The only way to convert the distrust into trust is by education, respect and tolerance. Education should provide us with information about the great cultural diversity fostered by our home continent. We should also grow accustomed early in life with the way people of different nationalities from Europe think, work, live and with their specific culture and folklore in order to understand them better. Fortunately, this can be easily achieved by continuous communication between the countries, backed by projects and special travelling programs designed especially for this purpose. Some of these measures have already been implemented and the language institutes worldwide usually spread their countries’ cultures as well as their respective mother tongues.

Respect is a crucial aspect of the European unification, as everybody wants to preserve their national and cultural identity. If we respect a country, we respect its individualism entirely and we do not try to shape it according to our own regard. As a conclusion, respect ensures the preservation of national identities within the larger concept of the European identity. A united Europe would not impose one culture over the rest but rather teach everyone about the European family, without having them abandon their original identity.

To my mind, Europe will be able to unite, to have better and simpler communications, improved relations and more success simply by having its people learn to accept the cultural differences between states not just because they want to be politically correct, but because they really do have the seed of acceptance sown into their hearts. That is the unique possibility of a long-term European unification.I think that Europe will become home for every one who respect itsits rules and laws.